Folding bed

ABSTRACT

The rectangular bed frame (1) of a folding bed is composed of two substantially symmetrical elements (2, 3), which are interconnected by hinges (4) in the symmetry plane lying between the two narrow sides (6) of the bed frame (1), so that they can fold on top of each other with their undersides. Along one of the long sides (5) both elements (2, 3) have swingable casters (15), whereupon the bed frame (1) can be easily moved during folding and transport.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase application corresponding to PCT/DE92/00341 filed 29 April 1992 and based, in turn, upon PCT GermanApplication P 41 897.5 filed 7 May 1991 under the InternationalConvention.

The invention relates to a folding bed, particularly for hotelbusinesses, with a frame-like rectangular bed stand and a mattressresting thereon, whereby the bed frame is composed of two substantiallysymmetrical elements which are interconnected by hinges in the symmetryplane between the narrow sides of the bed frame, so that they can befolded with their undersides on top of each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Frequently in hotels additional beds which can be set up temporarily areneeded. Such beds have to meet special requirements, since they have tobe repeatedly set up and dismantled, and have to be kept in a storagespace while not in use. Therefore such beds have to be easilytransportable, easy to be set up and dismantled and they have to requireas little storage space as possible. In order to meet theserequirements, folding beds are known which with the aid of more or lesscomplicated mechanisms can be folded to the smallest possible volume.However such beds are seldom sufficiently comfortable and their handlingis so complicated that it requires two people to fold or unfold the bed.

From CH-A-516 295 a folding bed of the mentioned kind is known, whichhas a two-part frame, the two frame parts being swingably interconnectedby hinges whose common axis of rotation lie in the symmetry planebetween the narrow sides of the bed. The upper face of the frame isprovided with a fabric cover serving as a mattress fastened by tensionsprings to the bed frame. In the folded state the bed can be carried.Hereby the undersides of the two frame parts are lying on top of eachother, whereby at the same time they form a carrying container forobjects.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a foldable bed which can betransported, set up and dismantled by a single person and which affordsa high degree of sleeping comfort without any limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved due to the factthat both frame elements have swingable casters along one of thelongitudinal sides of the bed frame, whereupon the bed frame can bemoved during folding and transport. Due to the invention a bed frame iscreated which is of an extremely simple construction and which can beeasily set up and folded by a single person. In its folded state, thebed has a compact size, so that it is easily transportable and does notrequire much storage space.

The invention further provides that at least one element be free and theother element be capable to stand on the floor surface with its endopposite to the hinges. An unfolding during transport is avoidedaccording to the invention by providing a latch on the ends of theelements forming the frontal sides of the frame, thereby these elementsbecoming interconnectable.

According to a further feature of the invention, in order to keep thestorage space as small as possible without having to lower the bed toomuch, the elements can have legs in a staggered arrangement, so thatwhen folded the legs of one element come to lie next to the legs of theother element. This way the legs dip into the free space available atthe underside of the bed frame, when the latter is folded. This way noadditional storage space is needed for the protruding part of the legs.

In the folded state the bed can be carried. Hereby the undersides of thetwo frame parts are lying on top of each other, whereby at the same timethey form a carrying container for objects.

This way the mattress elements can be then simply transported and storedtogether with the bed frame, by remaining lodged in the receivingrecesses of the bed frame and being secured there. If the mattresselements are not connected to the bed frame, according to a furtherproposal of the invention they can be secured to the bed frame duringtransport by straps.

In order to be able to carry the bed if necessary, the invention furtherprovides a carrying handle on the hinge side and on the opposite side ofone or both elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become morereadily apparent from the following description, reference being made tothe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an unfolded frame of a foldable bed,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the bed frame accordingto FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through an element of the bed frameaccording to FIG. 1 with mattress, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the folded bed in its transportposition.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

The shown bed frame 1 is composed of two elements 2, 3, substantiallysymmetrical with respect to the median plane parallel with the narrowsides and interconnected by two hinges 4. Each of the elements 2, 3 hasthe shape of a rectangular frame consisting of two long sides 5, afrontal side 6 and a connection brace 7 parallel to the frontal side 6.The long sides 5 and the frontal sides 6 are set up in an uprightposition with respect to the installation plane and are securely gluedtogether in the usual fashion at their adjoining ends. The connectionbrace 7 is arranged at the lower edge of the ends of long sides 5 whichare opposite to the frontal side 6 and are rigidly connected by dowelpins or screws with the long sides 5. Each of the hinges 4 is secured tothe underside of the adjacent connection braces 7 of both elements 2, 3,in such a manner that the elements 2, 3 can be folded on top of eachother with their undersides. In addition the underside of either side 6or side provided with hinges is formed with a handle 20.

on the mutually facing inner surfaces of long sides 5 longitudinalgrooves 8, 9 are formed at intervals. In the upper longitudinal grooves8 engage the ends of slats 10 parallel to the frontal sides 6 arrangedat intervals and which serve as a support for the mattress 11. The slats10 are additionally fastened to corner fillets 12 which extend on theunderside of slats 10 along the longitudinal grooves 8 and are gluedtogether with the long sides 5, as well as with the slats 10. In thelower longitudinal grooves 9 two crossties 13 are fastened, each havingtwo legs 14 on its underside. For fastening purposes the legs 14 areprovided with a threaded pin screwed into a receiving nut anchored incrossties 13. The connection between the crossties 13 and the long sides5 is also reinforced by short corner fillets 12. The crossties 13 arenot arranged like mirror images in the two elements 2, 3, but arestaggered so that during the folding of elements 2, 3 the legs 14 ofelement 2 come to lie next to the legs 14 of element 3, so that the legs14 do not impede the folding.

On one longitudinal side of the bed frame 1, on the outside of each ofthe long sides 5 of both elements 2, 3, two pivotally supported casters15 are fastened, on which the folded bed frame can be rolled away.

The bed frame is suited for a one-part continuous mattress, however thisis more difficult to transport. Therefore it is particularlyadvantageous to use a two-part mattress, whereby each mattress elementcorresponds in size with an element 2, 3 of the bed frame 1. Such anembodiment of the bed is shown in FIG. 4 in folded state positioned oncasters 15. The two elements 2, 3 are folded together with theirundersides facing each other, whereby the legs 14 disappear into thehollow space created by the undersides of elements 2, 3. On the outsideof elements 2, 3 are the mattress elements 16 of a two-part mattress 11,which are kept in place there by straps 17. The straps 17 can besuspended in eyelets which, as shown in FIG. 3, are attached to the longsides 5 by short bands. A latch 18 connects elements 2, 3 on their sidesopposite to the hinges 4, so that a stable, box-like body results, whichhas advantageous transport dimensions and can be easily moved onpivotable casters 15. This construction of the described bed is mainlysuited as an additional bed in the hotel business, since it can beeasily transported and set up by a single person.

In order to install the bed it is merely necessary to release the latch18 and to roll apart the elements 2, 3 on their casters with theirfrontal sides 6, until their long sides 5 are in one line. Subsequentlythe bed unfolded this way is tilted sideways, until it comes to stand onits legs 14. Since each of the two elements 2, 3 is provided with fourlegs, a stable arrangement is formed, which can be subjected to strongdemands. The hinges 14 are largely not subjected to load and serveprimarily for the correct alignment and positioning of the two elements2, 3 with respect to each other. The straps 17 are released after thebed had been set up and can be kept underneath the mattress or in apocket provided on the underside of the bed. The folding of the bedtakes place in reverse order and is just as simple.

In addition to the described embodiment examples, other embodiments ofthe bed according to the invention are conceivable. So for instance thehinges for the connection of the two elements 2, 3 can be designed sothat they are suited for the transfer of the load to be absorbed by oneelement to the other element, so that the one element can be held bymeans of the hinge by the other element and needs legs only at its endfacing away from the hinge. Also other means can be provided by whichone element can be supported by the other element in the unfolded state.

I claim:
 1. A folding bed comprising:a rectangular frame bed standhaving a symmetry plane and including a pair of substantiallysymmetrical halves, each of the halves comprising:a respective pair ofspaced apart outer and inner narrow sides, the narrow inner side lyingalong symmetry planer a respective pair of elongated sides bridging thenarrow sides, and at least one respective swingable caster mounted on atleast one of the elongated sides; hinge means for pivotallyinterconnecting the inner sides of the halves to fold the bed stand froma use position corresponding to the respective elongated sides of thehalves aligned with one another to a transport position corresponding tothe halves face one another; and a mattress mounted on the bed stand andfoldable therewith, the bed stand along with the mattress being movablein the transport position on the casters.
 2. The folding bed defined inclaim 1 wherein the bed stand has a plurality of intermediate positionsbetween the use and transport positions.
 3. The folding bed defined inclaim 1 wherein one of the outer narrow sides is provided with a latchfor locking the halves in the transport position.
 4. The folding beddefined in claim 1 wherein each of the halves further includes arespective plurality of legs, the legs of one of the halves beingstaggered with respect to the legs of the other half, so the legs of onethe halves lie next to the legs of the other half in the transportposition.
 5. The folding bed defined in claim 1 wherein the bed standfurther includes braces at neighboring parts of said elongated sides ofthe halves in the use position.
 6. The folding bed defined in claim 1wherein the elongated sides of each of the halves is formed withrespective spaced apart slats forming a support for the mattress.
 7. Thefolding bed defined in claim 1 wherein the mattress is a two-partfoldable mattress.
 8. The folding bed defined in claim 7, furthercomprising at least a plurality of straps fastening the two-partmattress to respective halves of the bed stand.
 9. The folding beddefined in claim 1 wherein the bed stand further includes a carryinghandle mounted on at least one of the narrow sides.